Redsand Canyon the ritual pyre's sending smoke to the sky

thread here!

“good.” renard offered him the languid curve of a smile, and filed derg’s answer to their second question away for future reference. it was always worth expecting you would have cause to fight without the training wheels on. they liked to be prepared. no problem in knowing every strength and weakness of every one of your packmates, right?

they were not aware of just how badly derg felt about what he’d accidentally done, of course. or his and donovan’s particular relationship. not yet.

the wolfdog stretched out in the water, jaws parting in a yawn before they got to their paws, licking water from their lips and shoulders as they padded back out onto the sand and shook out their fur. by now the little alcove was dappled with shadow cast by the fronds of the palms, dancing along their fur as they mirrored derg’s steps; circling him, looking for an opening.

their first thought was, again, the shoulder. the second was that they should be diversifying their technique, and that this was practice and perfect for it. they darted forward, their jaws angled at the last moment for his forelimb, but when they snapped shut it was on nothing but empty air.